Life; an adventure, a journey with Jesus!

Showers…..of blessing!

We know the old hymn says “showers of blessing we need! Mercy drops round us are falling, but for the showers we plead.” He promises showers of blessing. Do we see them, recognize them, and are we thankful for them? We have personally been blessed by knowing Fanny. Thank you, Lord! Being in her presence year after year, and now on a regular basis, learning from her, and enjoying her friendship; we are so blessed!

We recently had dinner with Fanny & Glenn. Fanny is Peruvian and we met her several years ago as she translated regularly for the American TEAMs when they came into town to minister to her people! Fanny gave her up time, her money (to travel over an hour each way) and partnered alongside the Americans for many years. Fanny’s parents are not Christians and they could not understand her commitment to these people who came to visit every June. Truth is, Fanny was committed to the Savior and translating was how she could share in the spreading of the gospel. Glenn is from the United States and came here, won over Fanny’s heart, married, and they are now serving the Lord as pastors in a little church in Chincha, 3 hours from what Fanny knows as ‘home’.

During our time together, we asked them to share more about their new church family so we could better understand their needs, their vision and pray more specifically for them. Let me share a few facts with you. First, the church has about 15 members. That’s right. That’s not a typo. Fifteen members including one 17 year old young man, one adult man, and the rest are women. They have 6 youth that meet weekly, one of which is Fanny’s daughter. Saturday morning they are feeding breakfast to about 20 children who come to church and beyond physical nourishment they offer the Word of God to these precious children with the goal of winning them to Christ and ministering to their parents in the near future. What a blessing Fanny and Glenn are to the family of God in Chincha.

Chincha was hit by an earthquake a few years ago and the devastation is still evident no matter which way you turn. Unemployment is high. The people are in desperate need of a Savior, but they also seek a cold cup of water. Anything at all that is offered to them is appreciated as they have many needs. The school system is lacking in many areas, but is sufficient according to Fanny. It is a very poor neighborhood and if they have any income at all, it is about 300 soles a month (less than $100 US). Fanny and Glenn have been well received by the Christians and the community. Buildings are not safe and the house that they have made their home falls into that category. But they have no option; it is what the church had to offer. What a blessing to have a place to stay, but also to know God has a hedge of protection around them daily.

Don and I were both thinking…but what can we do? We are 3 hours away from them by bus. We cannot just drop in and encourage them. We cannot stop by with a meal. We cannot go to their service to be with them. We call ourselves conduits for Christ yet we are trying to think what it is we can do to bless them as an encouragement. When the American TEAM was here I asked them if they could share some donated items with Fanny & Glenn. We suggested stuffed animals and Beanie Babies might be a welcomed donation as they could use them in the outreach to children. What more could we do? We remembered we have gently used bath towels from the American TEAM and asked if they would like to have some to use as Christmas presents? They were thrilled.

Fanny did have one question for us. Did we have any children’s clothing, specifically anything warm for a 7 years old girl. I checked with Heather, another American missionary here in our home town, to see if she had anything available and with some friends who have a young girl. Fanny said this little girl has nothing but the clothes on her back. Praise God we were given a bag by Anaid for this little girl and delivered them to Fanny and Glenn. This is such a small request from those who are seeking to meet the needs of those in their church family. Their church family is blessed to have this couple in their midst.

Our prayers are with Fanny and Glenn as they minister in Chincha, reaching out to a hurting people, bringing them practical help and spiritual hope. Please pray with us that they may be drenched in showers of blessing as this is the promise of God!

4 weeks later…more blessings!

Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Glenn’s home church in Louisiana came with over two dozen workers to spend a week with them in Chincha. The report is that through ministering in town, VBS, evening gospel services, and practical construction projects, the church had 72 people in it one night at a service and a total of 21 received Christ that week. Praise God! We need to lift Fanny & Glenn up as they continue to minister to these new babes in Christ.